Alan Shatter on TV3 congratulates Michael D and his wife, Sabina, saying his win is “a stunning result, and I think he’ll make an excellent president”. He refuses to accept that the Mitchell performance can be read into, and while he “didn’t gel with the electorate… I’m not going to prejudge why people make their decisions.”

Ttranscript of Seán Gallagher’s comments at Dublin Castle:

Tonight is his (Michael D Higgins) night and I salute him for that. He will have my support and anything I can do to help him in his job of representing Ireland, and supporting Ireland in the years ahead.

Do you blame Martin McGuinness for your slide in support?

Tonight is not a night at all for blame. Tonight is a night of celebration for Michael D. I congratulate all the other candidates for stepping forward – Ireland needs lots of people to step forward: for the presidency, for other roles in communities, and that’s what its about now. We need an example of every body to step forward to help rebuild this country.

On politics in the future

Tonight might not be a night to be making any decisions for anything.

What next?

Back to bed for a day or two anyway, to rest – it has been an enduring campaign, but I will say this: when I started this campaign some months ago there were two of us in a small office. We built a small but wonderfully passionate team – we have 2,000 volunteers in every community in every county in this country. I said at the beginning that Ireland was full of heroes and over the last six months, travelling to every community and every county, I have witnessed, more and more, thousands and thousands of heroes.

…This is a great country and it will be great again. Tonight I celebrate Michael D and his family as the ninth president. Trish and I are delighted to wish Michael D and Sabina every success, and health, and happiness, in the role as president.

It’s not about me tonight, and I won’t take away in any way at all from Michael D. This is his night.

Julien Behal of PA Wire has just filed through this pic of Michael D Higgins receiving the congratulations of Seán Gallagher. Respective wives Sabina and Trish have a chat in the background.

Is it just us or does Michael D Higgins look taller than we’ve ever seen him when standing beside Seán Gallagher?

Here’s what Dana had to say about her campaign, media scrutiny… and if she would run for office again. Again, reporting courtesy of Gavan Reilly at the National Presidential Election Count Centre at Dublin Castle:

Was it worth it?

Oh yes. It’s always worth standing up for what you believe in and to say what you have to say – of course it is.

Disappointed with campaign?

It was a tough campaign for all of us. I’m just really glad to be here at the close of this campaign and to have fought it through. It’s always worthwhile to stand up for what you believe to be true and to say what you have to say.

Why the poor show at the poll?

I respect the choice of the Irish people… I’m looking forward to congratulating Michael D and to meeting all of the other candidates. We’ve all been down quite a hard road and we’re here are the finish of it. I hope it won’t be off-putting for other people in the future to stand up… we need people to go forward.

Do you regret running?

No.

Would you run again?

I’m just waiting to sit down and put my feet up for a few days, and we’ll look at what will happen then.

Why didn’t you do better?

That’s up to the Irish people…

I wouldn’t have done or said anything differently. You do what you have to do: you put yourself forward and say what you have to say, and then you respect what the people decide.

Media scrutiny

The media have their job to do, and it wouldn’t have changed – and didn’t change – what I had to say and do…

On polls vs actual results

Well, you know. That’s how it is.  I’ll sit and reflect and look at that.

Will you run for public office again?

I really haven’t made any decision. The only decision I’ve made at this time is to enjoy this evening and sit down for a little while, and catch my breath. I really haven’t given it any thought at all.

Will you take a holiday?

I haven’t even thought about that. I’ll certainly sit down for a while and relax and think over it. It’s been a wonderful experience.

How was it as a financial experience?

Well, we’ll look at that too. We know that we would be going in, mostly contributing ourselves… we ran a very tight ship – probably, economically one of the tightest-run campaigns, so I’m glad of that too at this point in time. Like every household in the country, we were cutting our cloth to what we could afford to do.

I’m really glad I did it.

Did it take a personal toll?

Not a toll, like a devastating toll. There were moments when it was hard, of course, but I think that was true for all of the candidates.

(pausing, tearing up, ever so slightly, but maintaining voice) Sorry to be repeating myself, but I wouldn’t change a moment of it.

I wouldn’t have changed why I went forward, what I said or what I did. I’ve always been upfront, I’ve always been honest. I believe people know that, and that’s why I’m here.

Any words for Michael D?

Well, I congratulate him. I know that his wife Sabina and his family are great support to him, and I hope their time in the Aras will be happy and successful for them and for the country.

Highlight?

I really enjoyed getting out and meeting people on the ground. That’s, I think, always a highlight. I does give you courage, it gives you encouragement. And being here tonight is also a highlight for me.

How hard was it having your private life splashed all over the newspapers?

Well, (turning to leave) it’s not a breeze.

She walks away.

It’s been quite a day of Premier League action so far. And, whatever happens on the pitch, we already have a few mini-dramas here. Apart from Roy Hodgson taking on his old club, Liverpool are missing Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. Can Suarez also pick himself up from last week’s plethora of missed chances against Norwich?

Today’s teams:

West Brom: Foster, Reid, Olsson, McAuley, Jones, Brunt, Scharner, Mulumbu, Thomas, Odemwingie, Tchoyi

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Henderson, Adam, Lucas, Downing, Suarez, Carroll

No Gerrard today for Liverpool, who’s had a cut on his foot infected. But then they’ll have got used to that given he’s missed most of the season so far. Far more important to Liverpool will be whether Suarez is on form. As last week’s draw against Norwich proved, if he is misfiring, so are Liverpool.

And we’re off at the Hawthornes.

Liverpool try to hit Suarez twice early on. Oh that’ll happen.

Liverpool well on top in the first 80 seconds… another ball to the edge of the box falls back to Charlie Adam who blazes well, well over. Field goal.

The ball pinging around the Liverpool box there with a few feral attempts to clear it.

Penalty to Liverpool!

It looked shocking but the West Brom defender did wrap his leg around Suarez.

GOAL! West Brom 0-1 Liverpool

Charlie Adam slots the ball into the corner after a bit of sledging from the West brom players and a lot of deliberation over encroachment. Held his nerve well.

Well done the linesman too because that looked innocuous but it was a solid penalty call.

West Brom a bit hesitant at the moment and the game has settled into a relatively benign pattern since the goal.

Tchoyi has shown some nice touches today. Going to be a handful for Liverpool all game. Underrated oversized player.

Suarez blazes a free-kick over the bar. That’s about all that’s happened in the last 10 minutes.

West Brom are keeping their shape though. Granted, that shape is a good 30 yards from their own goal and it doesn’t lend itself to excitement.

Some more good shape-keeping there by West Brom.

Oh should have been 1-1 there though! Tchoyi swept the ball across the box. Odemwingie just missed it and it was just behind Thomas!

Suarez with a bit of acting there again. He is shameless.

GOAL! West Brom 0-2 Liverpool

West Brom – yes – lose their shape, allowing Suarez to pick out Carroll easily. The striker slid it home despite initially taking too much out of the ball.

HALF-TIME: West Brom 0-2 Liverpool

An Adam penalty and Carroll strike have probably decided an otherwise dismal game. Suarez central to both incidents.

Hodgson looks very angry. From his point of view, that penalty would not have looked like a penalty (it was). And his team have been poor since.

And the second half is underway

Oh, and Tchoyi flashes just wide of the post from outside the box. Fune turn.

Charlie Adam was just allowed roam right through the West Brom midfield and defence there but ultimately his shot was deflected.

Suarez shows the good of his game there by beating two players superbly before then showing the bad by going down theatrically over minimal contact.

Encouragingly for Liverpool, there’s been a bit of spark between Carroll and Suarez tonight. Game feels over though. At strolling pace.

Good result this for Liverpool given West Brom’s recent scalps. Would be ice to see Bellamy on though to inject a bit of pace/excitement to proceedings.

Oh super from Carroll. Leapt up to claim a loose ball on the run then volleyed at goal from 18 yards, forcing a good save from Foster.

Carroll wants his volley today. Just hammered another just wide. This game was over as a contest at around 27 minutes by the way.

ESPN have been unlucky with these games lately. They’ve mostly been absolutely dismal.

West Brom finally showing signs of life. Bit of pressure on the Liverpool line. They’re badly lacking Long though.

Substitute James Morrison almost snakes his way towards goal… but he’s blocked. Still 2-0.

To a cacophony of boos, Suarez departs for Craig Bellamy

In Spain, Messi makes up for last week’s penalty miss (sort of) by scoring one after seven minutes against Mallorca.

And signs of life here. West Brom now peppering shots at Liverpool. Where was this for the last 74 minutes?

Simon Cox on and aggressively causing trouble for Liverpool.

Downing hits the post! After a blistering run down the left, Bellamy sprayed the ball to the other side of the box where Downing cut inside and hit a low shot off the base of post.

FULL-TIME! West Brom 0-2 Liverpool

A surprisingly easy win for Liverpool. West Brom offered nothing while Suarez and Carroll at least combined well. Great result for Liverpool, awful game for the neutral.